Conjunctions and Transitions (Part I) : What Holds Your Sentences Together?
Conjunctions and Transitions (Part I) : What Holds Your Sentences Together?
Conjunctions and Transitions (Part I) : What Holds Your Sentences Together?
Conjunctions not only stop our sentences from being weak, they also give
our writing more meaning and let our sentences flow easily. See the
lesson below to understand how and when to use them.
What are conjunctions?
Conjunctions are like glue words. They link words or groups of words together. For
example:
It’s not so important to remember their names, but to remember to use them well.
Remember this word FANBOYS to help you remember the words. These
conjunctions always link similar things like in the examples at the top of this page.
They link two verbs, or two nouns, two clauses, etc. What equal elements are being
joined in the examples below?
Examples:
1. He never took his wife shopping, for he hated to see her spend money.
2. He wanted to practice painting and sculpture.
3. She didn’t want to write nor to draw.
4. He loved science, but he didn’t want to study it.
5. I couldn’t decide if I wanted rice or noodles.
6. He loved books, yet he refused to go to libraries.
7. The students wanted to work in the lab, so they asked for the keys.
2. Correlative Conjunctions. These have two sets of words and link two parts of a
sentence. Here are seven common correlative conjunctions:
1. either….or
2. neither….nor
3. not only….but also
4. both….and
5. just as….so too
6. whether….or
7. as….as
There should be a similar kind of structure after each one (like the equal elements
mentioned above in Coordinating Conjunctions). What equal elements are being
joined in the examples below?
3. Subordinating Conjunctions. They link together two sets of clauses (not nouns,
verbs, adjectives, etc. like with coordinating or correlative conjunctions).
There are many subordinating conjunctions and they can be divided into different
kinds.
Note that some of the conjunctions in this list can also function in different ways. For
example, “before” can be an adverb (I had never seen him before). “Since” can be a
preposition (I have known him since May). For this lesson, the above words all
function as conjunctions.
Subordinating conjunctions can come between two clauses or at the beginning of the
sentence (with a comma between the two clauses).
Note the clauses that are linked (and the word order) the examples below:
EXERCISE
In the following passage, there are some conjunctions missing. Put in conjunctions
where necessary and correct the sentences.
I was walking home one evening, I saw a light on at my friends house, I went in. I
knocked on the door nobody answered, I knew the family well, I knew I could go in. I
heard my friend’s mother talking on the phone, I didn’t want to disturb her, I could
see nobody else was at home. I left. I saw my friend an hour later. I told him I was at
his house – I heard his mother talking on the phone. He said it was impossible. She
was not at home an hour before. She was in the hospital 400 km away. I see another
light, I won’t go in.
Answer Key
As I was walking home one evening, I saw a light on at my friends house, so I went in. I knocked on
the door, but nobody answered. I knew the family well, so I knew I could go in. I heard my friend’s
mother talking on the phone, but I didn’t want to disturb her, and I could see nobody else was at home,
so I left. When I saw my friend an hour later. I told him I was at his house and I heard his mother
talking on the phone. He said it was impossible. Not only was she not at home an hour before, but she
was also in the hospital 400 km away. If I see another light, I won’t go in.
PART II Transitions
Many people confuse conjunctions and transitions. Here are some transitions:
Transitions help us to link ideas together, but they cannot link sentences. This is one
reason that people confuse them. Look at the examples below:
You can see in the examples above that for example, on the other hand, moreover and
indeed help us to link ideas together or to make transitions from one idea to the other,
but grammatically they cannot link sentences together (to make one longer sentence).
Don’t worry, with transitions your writing will also be much better, even more
beautiful, but just remember not to use them in place of conjunctions.
Below is a list of transitions that you can use for various purposes in your writing.
There are many more than the ones you see here. You can easily find lists with dozens
of transition words in each category.
To give examples:
For example, for instance, as you can see, in other words, to illustrate, not only that,
take for instance
To show time:
Finally, at last, previously, subsequently, further, simultaneously, at the same time,
eventually, in the meantime
To show reason:
For this reason, so, for this purpose, to account for this, to explain,
To finish:
In conclusion, as you can see, in the end, finally, to conclude, in summary, all things
considered
There are many more transitions than the ones you see here. As you learn to use them
effectively, add them to your vocabulary and build up your stock of transition words.
EXERCISES
1. In this passage there are a number of transitions. Identify them and say what
purpose they have in the passage.
Graffiti as Art
Many people believe that graffiti is the work of gang members and criminals who
only want to destroy the way a nice city looks. However, I tend to feel a little
different. I believe that graffiti is an art form and that we should give it more value.
Recently, the work of graffiti artists has increased highly and it is no longer spray
paint vandalism. For instance, the art on the streets of cities like New York and Los
Angeles gives us some insight into the lives and cultures of those who live there,
through graffiti. Furthermore, many of the images are filled with artistic intention. For
instance, there is symbolism, creativity and real technique. Ultimately this too is an
art form! From another perspective, I understand that nobody has the right to paint
anything on a surface that belongs to someone else, but the fact remains, graffiti is an
art form with value and a message. In the end, we should recognize this fact and take
it into galleries next to the works of more respected artists.
2. The following passage needs some transitions. Put in transitions and say what
purpose they have in the passage.
An End to Graffiti
Today it seems that young people in many countries feel they can take a can of spray
paint and destroy. They write up buildings. They make pictures. They send scary gang
messages on public buildings. They have many problems in the area where they live.
That is not the fault of other citizens who have to endure this. It makes the city look
dirty too. Nobody wants to see their beautiful city become a junk yard of paint cans.
We should get rid of it completely! Other countries are battling this very problem.
They have to deal with graffiti using the law. We should have laws that protect our
buildings. We need to stop letting kids think this is art. We can then have our nice
streets back.
Answer Key
Graffiti as Art
Many people believe that graffiti is the work of gang members and criminals who
only want to destroy the way a nice city looks. However, I tend to feel a little
different. I believe that graffiti is an art form and that we should give it more value.
Recently, the work of graffiti artists has increased highly and it is no longer spray
paint vandalism. For instance, the art on the streets of cities like New York and Los
Angeles gives us some insight into the lives and cultures of those who live there,
through graffiti. Furthermore, many of the images are filled with artistic intention. For
example, there is symbolism, creativity and real technique. Ultimately, this too is an
art form! From another perspective, I understand that nobody has the right to paint
anything on a surface that belongs to someone else, but the fact remains, graffiti is an
art form with value and a message. In the end, we should recognize this fact and take
it into galleries next to the works of more respected artists.
An End to Graffiti
Today it seems that young people in many countries feel they can take a can of spray
paint and destroy. For example, they write up buildings and even make pictures.
Moreover, they send scary gang messages on public buildings. Of course, they have
many problems in the area where they live. However, that is not the fault of other
citizens who have to endure this. Additionally, it makes the city look dirty. Nobody
wants to see their beautiful city become a junk yard of paint cans. Ultimately, we
should get rid of it completely! Similarly, other countries are battling this very
problem. They have to deal with graffiti using the law. By the same token, we should
have laws that protect our buildings. Without doubt, we need to stop letting kids think
this is art. Then we can then have our nice streets back.